Syria, Jordan, and US agree on southern Syrian region security roadmap

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
16 Sep 2025 19:50

After months of unrest in Druze-majority Sweida, Syria, Jordan, and the United States outline a plan centered on accountability, reconciliation, and shared security interests

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US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack, right, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, left, and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani pose for a photograph after signing a roadmap to restore security in southern Syria, in Damascus, Syria, Tuesday, September 16, 2025 (AP)

Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi visited Syria on Tuesday as part of diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis in the southern province of Sweida, and he met with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and US Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack for a trilateral meeting.

At a press conference, Safadi emphasized Jordan’s commitment to cooperation with Syria to ensure stability. He noted that “southern Syria is an extension of Jordan’s security” and reaffirmed that “Syria’s security and stability are part of Jordan’s security.” He also reiterated Jordan’s “firm position supporting the unity of Syria’s land.”

Safadi further condemned Israeli attacks on Syria, rejecting what he described as its “seditious meddling", and stressed that “Israel” remains the only party seeking to divide the country.

Syria's foreign minister addressed the violence that struck the Druze-majority Sweida governorate in July, saying the tragedy “left its mark on the heart of every Syrian home” and reaffirmed that “the Syrian pain is one.”

He announced a plan, backed by Jordan and the United States, to restore calm in Sweida. The roadmap includes holding accountable those responsible for attacks on civilians, compensating affected families, and launching a process of internal reconciliation.

Syria emphasizes justice and reconciliation

“The Syrian government has laid out a clear roadmap for action... that supports justice and builds trust,” al-Shaibani said, explaining that the plan aims to restore confidence among Sweida’s communities while reinforcing national unity.

Jordan’s foreign minister added that a “joint Syrian-Jordanian-American mechanism” would oversee the plan’s implementation to ensure tangible results.

Barrack participated in the discussions, reaffirming Washington’s support for stability efforts in Sweida and the broader southern region.

The trilateral talks build on earlier meetings hosted in Amman on July 19 and August 12, which sought to establish a ceasefire and explore long-term solutions for Sweida’s crisis.